Alizé Cornet has lived up to her role as favourite at the WTA sand court tournament in Gstaad.
The top seeded Frenchwoman won the final at the 250,000 dollar event in the Bernese Oberland 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) against Mandy Minella.
While the 32-year-old from Luxembourg, who fended off 15 of 20 break points in the final, is still waiting for her first WTA individual title, Cornet secured the sixth tournament victory of her career after two hours of play – the first this season.
Previously, the 28-year-old had already triumphed in Hobart (2016), Katowice (2014), Strasbourg (2013), Bad Gastein (2012) and Budapest (2008). In the world rankings, Cornet will improve by 14 places to rank 34. Tamara Korpatsch and Mona Barthel had failed in the second round of Gstaad, Antonia Lottner retired in the opening round.
Cornet will start at the clay court tournament in Moscow next week. In the Russian capital, Wimbledon semi-finalist Julia Görges is at the top. Cornet, seeded number seven in the Moscow River Cup, will face Laura Siegemund in the first round.